NSBE - Convention 2018 - 40

MARCH 21-25, 2018 * PITTSBURGH, PA.

IGNITE * IMAGINE * INNOVATE

NATIONAL
A
SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS

The Power of 'Giving Back'
NSBE's 2018 Dr. Arthur J. Bond Lifetime Members of the Year
Leslye and Darryl Fraser
By Cindy Atoji

eslye and Darryl Fraser are the epitome of a "power couple" and have already been described as such by a black
history website hosted by MIT. Leslye Fraser is a social activist and former environmental appeals judge, and Darryl,
her husband of 38 years, is a retired corporate vice president for Northrop Grumman Corporation.
You wouldn't guess that they've hung up their working hats, because their circle of influence continues on, as
exemplified by their selection to receive the Dr. Arthur J. Bond Lifetime Member of the Year Award at the upcoming NSBE
Annual Convention in Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Bond, as a Purdue University engineering professor and faculty advisor to NSBE's
founders, "the Chicago Six," helped ensure the success of the new organization. The Arthur J. Bond Award recognizes
lifetime members who continue to keep NSBE relevant and growing throughout communities of color and in boardrooms
across the country. In the same way that Dr. Bond was an early influencer, the Frasers are movers and shakers.
Both are MIT graduates and engineers: Leslye received bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering
there, and Darryl a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. And both went on to receive more advanced degrees,
Leslye a Juris Doctor and Darryl a Master of Business Administration. Leslye was the first person of color to serve as an
environmental appeals judge for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency appeals board and received several government awards for her excellent public service. In the meantime, Darryl moved up the ranks at Northrop Grumman, starting
as an engineer and taking on increasing responsibility in the Space and Information Systems businesses, eventually leading the company's global brand and communications strategy in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East as corporate
vice president, Communications.
They both retired two years ago, splitting their time between the Washington, D.C., area and Boca Raton, Fla., and
trying to enjoy golf and reading. But time for that is limited, because Leslye is president of a nonprofit organization dedi-

It's been a long time since Leslye and Darryl met at MIT as chemical
engineering majors, but it was groups like NSBE that helped them
realize that becoming an engineer was an achievable goal.

Darryl and Leslye Fraser

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NSBE MAGAZINE * CONVENTION 2018

cated to supporting African-American advancement into the senior ranks of the U.S. government: the African American
Federal Executive Association. She's also co-chair of the National STEM committee for The Links, Incorporated, which
is dedicated to enriching and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans. Leslye is spearheading
the effort of The Links, a partner with NSBE, to establish 75 NSBE Jr. chapters, with 42 already established in the last
two years. Darryl continues to stay connected to technology solutions, as he serves as an advisor to a Washington, D.C.based technology company. He also is working on the national level as an advisor to the 50K Coalition - an initiative
originally envisioned by NSBE - and its bold goal of producing 50,000 diverse engineering graduates annually in the
U.S. by 2025.
It's been a long time since Leslye and Darryl met at MIT as chemical engineering majors, but it was groups like NSBE
that helped them realize that becoming an engineer was an achievable goal. NSBE was just getting started at Purdue at
the time, and the MIT chapter formed a year later with Leslye as a charter member. They won't forget the supportive role
that NSBE had in their lives. That's why at the upcoming Annual Convention, they won't only be receiving their award but
also will be training new NSBE Jr. chapter advisors and acting as judges for the NSBE Jr. competitions.
The Frasers are humble, so if you ask them whether they are indeed a power couple as described, they may
laugh and defer to answer. Their power, they say, comes from giving back and serving others. That's always been
the NSBE way. ■
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